Do you have to take special care the way you bite and chew your food to avoid aggravating an aching tooth (or teeth)? Do you wince each time you sip your coffee, or your cup of ice cold water? Most of us deal with sensitive and/or aching teeth at some point in our lives. Sometimes, it’s nothing serious, and might subside on its own. However, more often than not, the aching will return, and worse, if its cause isn’t addressed. Therefore, to relieve a toothache, you’ll have to temporarily stop the immediate pain, and then seek professional treatment to resolve the underlying cause.
Temporary Toothache Relief
- Before trying anything, try to determine why and how your tooth hurts. Search the tooth for a crack or fracture that you might not have noticed. Also, take note if the aching is a dull throb, a sharp pain, or just a slight annoyance when you eat and drink.
- Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water to dislodge debris that might be stuck around the tooth. Use floss to clean more thoroughly between the sensitive teeth. If your toothache is bad enough to interrupt your day, then try placing an ice pack on the corresponding side of your mouth and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever (like Tylenol or Aspirin) until your dental visit.
Permanent Toothache Treatment
Once you make it to your dentist’s office, treating your toothache will begin with an examination, and then a case-appropriate procedure. For instance, if it’s a cavity, you might need a tooth filling; if the tooth is damaged, it may require a dental crown to restore it. If the tooth is extremely infected, then we may recommend root canal therapy to remove the infected tooth tissues. Whatever the cause, seeking professional treatment is likely the only way you’ll find lasting relief from your discomfort.
ABOUT YOUR FUQUAY VARINA DENTIST:
For over 15 years, Dr. Michele Collier and the talented professionals at Waterstone Family Dentistry have provided comfortable, compassionate dental care to patients of all ages from Fuquay Varina, NC, as well as Holly Springs, Angier, Willow Springs, Raleigh, and all surrounding communities. If you’d like to learn more, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Collier by calling (919) 557-5250 today.
